Cards' Bruce Arians compares J.J. Nelson to Emmanuel Sanders
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Cardinals coach Bruce Arians gave 2015 fifth-round pick J.J. Nelson quite the compliment.
Via 98.7 FM in Arizona, Arians said the former UAB receiver reminds him of Broncos receiver Emmanuel Sanders, based on their size, speed and style of play. Nelson is 5-10, though he's just 156 pounds. Arians coached Sanders when both were in Pittsburgh.
However, his speed is something Arians has been familiar with for a long time.
"It's funny because I was at a track meet five years ago, four years ago, in Alabama — the state championships and my granddaughter was running," Arians said. "This kid from Midfield won the 100, 200, 4x100 — little skinny dude. My son and I go, ‘Who in the hell is that?'
"It just happened to be J.J. Nelson."
Nelson will team up with speedy second-year wideout John Brown on offense. Arians said he reached out to quarterback Carson Palmer, who apparently approved of the pick.
"He said, ‘I love it,'" Arians said.
